Myanmar frees doctor of Aung San Suu Kyi

Myanmar's junta has released the doctor of Aung San Suu Kyi, his family said on Sunday, almost two weeks after he was detained in relation to an incident in which a US man swam to the democracy icon's house.

Myanmar's junta has released the doctor of Aung San Suu Kyi, his family said on Sunday, almost two weeks after he was detained in relation to an incident in which a US man swam to the democracy icon's house.

Tin Myo Win was arrested on May 7 as he tried to give medical care to Aung San Suu Kyi following the bizarre visit by the American, which has since led to the opposition leader being charged with breaching her house arrest. "He was released from detention last night (Saturday) at about 7:00 pm. According to him his health situation is good," one of Tin Myo Win's family members told AFP, asking not to be identified.

His release comes days after the US government demanded that Myanmar's military rulers should grant Tin Myo Win "immediate" access to see the 63-year-old Aung San Suu Kyi, amid fears for her health.

The Nobel Peace Prize laureate was placed on an intravenous drip at her house on Friday by Tin Myo Win's medical assistant because she could not eat, had low blood pressure and was dehydrated.

Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party said it was also aware of the development. "I also heard about his release but I haven't had any contact with him yet," NLD spokesman Nyan Win told AFP.

It was not clear if Tin Myo Win would be allowed to visit Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been moved from her home to the notorious Insein prison near Yangon ahead of her trial on Monday.

She faces up to five years in jail if convicted at the trial, which comes less than two weeks before the latest period of her detention was due to expire. Aung San Suu Kyi has spent most of the past 19 years under house arrest.